Today began with me walking through the village trying to decipher between 15 bamboo huts as to which might be hers. It only took two tries! She came outside and we sat and talked for about an hour with Axel, as her 1 year old son messed in the dirt around us. Xyra is 19 and a single mother after her husband left her for another woman. She now lives with her father and step- mother and temporarily is not working while Axel still needs her at home. She does make bracelets for Threads of Hope, however since Axel is just learning to walk, she has little time to actually sit and get much of them done. She was working on a bracelet while I was there and gave it to me as I left. I’m hoping to have her make bracelets for me that I can buy and bring back to the States. (Let me know if you want one!) Conversation just flowed so easily. She shared her desire to travel to London one day and how her family laughs at her when she shares she is going to church. She was vulnerable about parts of her faith she is still learning about, and I was able to relate with her in so many areas. We read through our Bibles together (mine in English, hers in Tagalog) and found encouragement and some answers. I am so thankful God placed us in one another’s paths. I would love prayers for Xyra and her son, Axel. That she would continue to pursue the Lord despite her families objections, that she would continue to see her struggles as something that is developing perserverence and character, and that it is all in His plan. I pray little Axel would grow up into a strong man of God and that the stories she shares with him from the Bible will stick. Salamat (“thank you” in Tagalog) so much for your continual support in reading my blogs, encouraging the work being done by our team, and for having faith in the work God is doing in each of us. It means more than you know.
Today was my first day spent with my new friend, Xyra. Sitting in her bedroom reading the Bible with her while her son Axel got into something he wasn’t supposed to, I realized this is what this year is all about. It is hard to describe a day getting to know a new friend in a foreign country where the two lives look so completely opposite. But that is what happened. We talked about everything: desiring to travel, marriage, life where we live, families, our faith. I have never shared so much or been so open so quickly with someone. I had known her for maybe 15 minutes prior to today.
She taught me some Tagalog, which is very hard to learn. Even after hearing them say a word, I have difficulty repeating it correctly. She is a patient teacher and shared with me how she in fact taught herself English by reading English books and talking with foreign customers who she would waitress on at her old job.
